Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-29


Having possessed herself of his attention
Ehe appeared, strangely enough, to have
nothing TO say to him. A curious apathy
reemed TO have taken possession Of this reso-
lutte woman Forced to speak first. the doc
tor merely inquired, in the conventional
phrase, what he could do for her.
The sound Of his voice seemed to rouse her.
Still looking straight at the light, she said
abruptly: 81 have a painful question to ask"
"What is itn
Her eyes Travelled slowly from the window
10 the doctors face Without the slightest
outward appearance of agitation sho put THO
"painful question" in these extraordinary
words:
a want to know, II you please, whether l
am in danger Of going madP
Some men might have been amused, and
some might have been alarmed. DR..
Wybrow was only conscious of a sense OF
disappointment. Was this the rare case that
he had anticipated, Judging rashly by APP
pearancesl Was the new patient only a
hypochondriacal woman, whose malady was
a disordeTed stomach, and whose misfortune
was weak brainl "Why do you come to
meF' he asked, sharply. "Why don't you
consult doctor whose special employment
Is the treatment OF the insanel'
She had her answer ready on the instant.
al don't go to doctor of that sort" she
said "for the very reason that he is a special
| ist; he has the fatal habit of judging every
| body by lines and rules Of his own laying
| down. | come to you because my case is out
side OF all lines and rules, and because you are
|
| Of mysteries in disease Arc you satisfied"
He was more than satisfed-his first idea
had been the right idea, after all. Besides,
she was correctly informed as to his profes
sional position. The capacity which Ind
raised HIM to fame and fortune was his ca.
pacity (unrivaled among his brethren) for the
| discovery Of remote disease.
II am at your disposal" no answered. "Let
me try IL can find out what Is tho matter
with you"
He put his medical questions They were
promptly and plainly answered, ind they led
| to no other conclusion than that the strange
lady was, mentally and physically, in excel
lent health. Not satisfied with questions. he
carefully examined the great organs Of life.
Neither his hand nor his stethoscope could
discover anything that was amiss. With the
admirable patience and devotion to his art
which had distinguished him from the time
when he was student, he still subjected her
to one test after another. The result was
always the same. Not only was there no
tendency TO brain disease-thare was not
even a perceptible arrangement Of the nerv-
Gus system. al can find nothing the matter
with you,r he said. al can't even account
for the extraordinary pallor OF your COM
plexion You completely puzzle me-"
"The pallor Of my complexion is nothing"
she answered, little impatiently. ain my
early life l had narrow escape from death
| by poisoning. l have never had COM
| plexion since, md my skin Is SO delicate /
cannot paint without producing a hideous
rash. But that is OF no importance.
wanted your opinion given positively. be-
lieved in you, and you have disappointed
me-" Her head dropped on her breast
"And so it endsl" she said TO herself bitterly.
The doctors sympathies were touched.
Perhaps it might be more correct to say that
his professional pride was little hurt. at
may end in the rigat way yet" he remarked,
'if you choose TO help me-"
She looked up again with flashing eyes.
Speak plainly" she said. "How can help
your
"Plainly, madame, you come to me as an
enigma, and you leave me to make the right
guess by the unaided efforts Of my art. My
art will do much, but not all. For example,
something must have occuIred-something
quite unconnected with the state Of your
bodily health--to brighten you about your
self, or you would never have come here to
consult me. Is that truer
She clasped her hands in her lap. "That is
ruep she said, eagerly. II begin to believe
a you again"
"Veiy we'll. You can't expect me to find
Iut the moral cause which has alarmed you.
| can positively discover that there is no
physical cause for alarm; and (unless you
admit me to your confidence / can do no
more"
She rose and took a turn in the room.
Suppose tell youi" she said. "Brt, mind.
| shall mention no namesl'
"There is no need to mention names. The
iects are all / want"
"The facts are nothing she rejoined. 81
have only my own impressions TO confess
and you will very likely think me fanciful
fool when you hear what they ARE. No mat
ter will do my best to content you'll will
begin with the facts that you want Take
my word for it, they won't do much to help
you"
She sat down again. In the plainest posi-
bic words, she began the strangest and wild
VI confession that had ever reached the
doctors ears.